Dear Students,

In the years following the proclamation of the Republic, infant mortality in our country was at a tragically high level of 50%. In 2024, the Turkish Statistical Institute announced that the infant mortality rate, which expresses the number of infant deaths per thousand live births, was 9 per

thousand. Despite this improvement achieved a century later, the World Health Organization and UNICEF state that "more midwives are needed worldwide than ever before" in order to support normal childbirth and reduce maternal and infant mortality. Today, while maternal and infant mortality rates are higher in underdeveloped and developing countries, birth rates in developed countries have decreased compared to previous years. Midwives play a key role in all societies in reducing maternal and infant mortality and supporting normal childbirth and healthy reproduction.

Midwifery is a modern profession that offers various career opportunities, including undergraduate and postgraduate (master's and doctoral) programs. The Midwifery program at Istanbul Aydın University Faculty of Health Sciences began accepting students for the first time in the Fall Semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. Our midwifery program is committed to producing graduates who possess the highest level of knowledge and skills, have acquired independent work abilities, embrace the principle of lifelong learning, progress in the light of science, and elevate their profession to the highest levels, taking into account the needs of society. The theoretical and practical courses of our midwifery program are based on acquiring professional skills from the first year onwards. In various hospitals in Istanbul, under the supervision of expert midwives and academics in relevant units and delivery rooms, we strive to train you in an environment of love and values. I wish you success on this challenging and rewarding educational journey.

Sincerely,

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Semra BÜLBÜLOĞLU, Head of Midwifery Department